John brookes and albert edward tolley



July 10, 1923. 1,461,305

v J. 'BROOKES ET AL ARTIFI C IAL TEETH Filed AuQl. 28. 1922 Patented July 10, 1 923.

UNITED, STATES 1,461,305 PATENT OFFICE- JOHN nnooxns Ann ALBERT EDWARD TOLLEY, or HALESOWEN, ENGLAND;

ARTIFICIAL TEETII.

Application filed August 28, 1922. Serial No. 584,102.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, JOHN BROOKES and ALBERT EDWARD TorlLnY, subjects of the King of Great Britain, residingat Beaumont, 'Hagley Road, Halesowen, in the county'of Worcester, England, and27 Great Cornbow, Halesowen, aforesaid, respectively, have inventedcertain new Improvements in or Relating to Artificial Teeth; and we do hereby declare the following. to be "a full,

clear. and exactdescription of the same.

This invention relates to artificial teeth and has forits object toprovide a generally improved construction. 7

In artificial teeth as at present generally constructed, the complete denture usually consists .ofa plate to which'the teeth are attached by pegging. Usually the teeth or most of the teeth are applied to the plate individually, each tooth having a peg for attaching it to the plate. In some cases, however, particularly in connection with molar teeth, two or more teeth have been formed together and attached by pegging to the plate and otherwise. This practice of attaching the teeth to the plate individually by pegging is open to the objections, first, that the teeth themselves are weakened by the holes which are formed to accommodate the pegs, and secondly, most of the teeth being constructed individually they are liable to receive greater strains than they can withstand so that breakages are comparatively frequent. Apart from breakages, the system of pegging the teeth individually to the plate is open to the objection that the teeth are liable to become loose and detached from the plate one by one. The possibility of breakage and loosening of the individual teeth is a source of considerable danger to the individual and the primary object of the present invention is to construct artificial teeth so that not only greater convenience will be obtained but much greater safe ty, as the present invention enables the danger of individual teeth coming loose or individual teeth breaking to be entirely overcome.

One of the features of our invention is to construct what may be termed artificial teeth units which comprise preferably a complete set of upper or lower teeth. These artificial teeth units, in any case, even if they do not constitute a complete set of upper or lower teeth, will usually include a substantial number of teeth made in one plece as a single unit.

These artificial teeth units whether they constitute a complete set or not may bemade with an inwardly disposed substantially horizontal flange having a number of substantially vertical perforations. Alternatively, this flange may be omitted and the perforations may be placed in the. cavities at-the backs of ,t-he teeth between the teeth.

Another feature of our' invention is an improved method of attaching the "artificial teeth units to the plate to form a complete denture and according to this part of our" invention the teeth units and plate are assembled together and hot vulcanite' or equivalent substance is used to unite-them, the vulcanite or equivalent substance being in a substantially fluid state to enable it to pass through the holes provided in the teeth units either between the backs of the teeth or in the flange.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of an upper set of teeth constructed according to this invention, the plate being shown by dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a plan view of same.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the bottom set in its invertedposition.

Figure 4 is a view of a modified form.

Figure 5- is an enlarged section.

In the construction illustrated by the accompanying drawings, the artificial teeth 1 are preferably built up so as to comprise complete sets or partial sets and are provided with an inwardly projecting flange 2. This flange 2 serves as a convenient base to which the plate 3 may be secured and is preferably provided with a series of holes 4.

The plate 3 which may be of the usual form and material is secured to the flange 2 by causing the material of the plate when in a molten condition to flow into the holes 4, the ends of the portions projecting through the holes, being preferably riveted or flanged to render them more secure. If necessary, further depressions or holes such as 5 may be formed into which the material of the plate may pass.

Instead of the inwardly extending flange 2, each unit may be provided with a number of ears or projections 6 as shown in Figure 4 through which the holes are formed.

Instead of securing the teeth units by al- 2; artificial denture comprisin a comvBi l laed in lowing the material of the plate, when hot, to flow into the holes of the units, the units y he r ve ed t0 t e P te at bo hme h d ma tie-used.

y employing artificial teeth constructed accordingte t i invention, the dange of individual" teeth beingbroken or coming oil? the plate is entirely avoided and a much greater degree of safety is attained.

Further, with dentures constructed in ac? cordance with our invention the liability of sm ll hreds 9? p ce a o b c i lodged or wedged between the teeth is avoidat, a there a e no cr vice wh ch ul hem I 1 Wh atWe claim then is 1'. An'artificial denture comprising a (5. mplet row of art fi ial te th med int grally nd 'inFh ding molars, b wsp d a "we e th u pe pa t sa r t e v.1 9I? 1 y9f vsm l ope ing ther in, a no .m te ieelete .mqald d e fit the mouth, a ,BFPW WPH n said pla entermg S id op 3& $115 $9 HD 4 8 the p at t the row of v t ple row of prtificial teeth formed intend ng melar bi sp and incisors, an inwardly directed projecting rib upon the inner side of said row, said rib being disposed below the level of the upper edge of the teeth, a plurality of small openings in the upper surface of said rib, a nonmeta l pl m uld to fi th 109t and projections on said plate entering said openlngs so as to unite the plate to the row of set of teeth constructed according to this Visible when the denture is in use.

3. An artificial denture comprising a complete row of artificial teeth formed integrally and including molars, bicuspids and incisors, the upper part of said row having a pluralifiy of small openings therein, an inwardly i inner side of said row, said rib bein disposed 1) low the level of the upper edge of the teeth, a plurality of small openings in the upper surface of said rib, a non-metallic plate moulded to fit the niouth, and projcctions on said plate entering said openings so as to unite the plate to the row of teeth, whereby the said plate is virtually invisible when the denture is in use.

Inwitness whereof we afilx our signatures.

JOHN BROOKES. V ALBERT EDYVARD TOLLEY.

rected prmecting rib upon the 

